Symptom: Hypokalemia

Introduction: Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia: Abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood. See free access online books about Hypokalemia below. See detailed information below for a list of 130 causes of Hypokalemia, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list

Causes of Hypokalemia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Hypokalemia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Inadequate potassium in diet
• Severe or prolonged diarrhoea
• See also causes of diarrhoea
• Severe or prolonged vomiting
• See also causes of vomiting
• Bowel obstruction
• See also causes of bowel obstruction
• Following bowel surgery
• Bowel fistulae
• Kidney damage due to drugs
• Kidney damage due to bacteria or infection
• Diuretic use
• IV fluids
• Urinary tract obstruction
• Diabetes
• Insulin use following diabetic ketoacidosis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Hypertension
• Cushing's Syndrome
• Conn's Syndrome
• Aldosteronism
• Primary aldosteronism
• Secondary aldosteronism
• Steroid use
• Corticosteroid medications
• Heart failure
• Liver disease
• Alcoholism
• Liver Cirrhosis
• Blood test falsely show decreased potassium levels - e.g. error in collection or storage

See full list of 130 causes of Hypokalemia

» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list

Hypokalemia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Hypokalemia, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Hypokalemia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Hypokalemia and Digestive symptoms (27 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Muscle symptoms (25 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Muscle weakness (25 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Sexual symptoms (25 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Weakness (25 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Nerve symptoms (23 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Vomiting (23 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Body symptoms (22 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Sensations (21 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Weight loss (21 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Weight symptoms (21 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Heart symptoms (20 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Pain (20 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Swelling symptoms (20 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Abdominal symptoms (20 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Bladder symptoms (18 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Fatigue (18 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Urinary problems (18 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Urinary symptoms (18 causes)
• Hypokalemia and Kidney symptoms (17 causes)

See full list of 986 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Hypokalemia

Home Diagnostic Testing and Hypokalemia

Home medical tests possibly related to Hypokalemia:

• Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Anemia Tests
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests
  • Home Calcium Deficiency Tests
  • Home HIV Tests

Diagnostic Guides for Hypokalemia

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Hypokalemia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Hypokalemia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Hypokalemia

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Hypokalemia

Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite common in women, but often fails to be correctly diagnosed. Women with the condition tend to have ...read more »

Differentiate bulimia from psychoneurotic disorders: Bulimia is episodic secretive binge eating followed by self induced vomiting, fasting or the use of laxatives. It comprises...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hypokalemia

Diagnostic tests for Hypokalemia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Hypokalemia. Some of these are listed below :

• Blood tests
  • Full blood count
  • Electrolytes and kidney function tests
  • Sodium level. If sodium level is normal or increased consider hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, periodic paralysis or IV fluid supplementation without supplemental potassium. If sodium level is decreased consider pyloric obstruction, diuretics, severe vomiting, diabetic acidosis, diarrhea, renal tubular acidosis, starvation and malabsorption syndrome
  • Plasma cortisol. If elevated suggests Cushing's syndrome

See full list of 12 diagnostic tests for Hypokalemia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Hypokalemia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• Symptoms of low potassium? - usually without symptoms but may have muscle weakness or heart palpitations.
• Past medical history? - e.g. liver failure, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome and Conn's syndrome may all increase aldosterone secretion and thus cause low potassium; bulimia nervosa may cause low potassium due to self induced vomiting; renal tubular acidosis causes low potassium.
• Past surgical history? - e.g. ileostomy causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
• Medications? - e.g. diuretics (especially thiazide diuretics) are the commonest cause of low potassium; laxative abuse causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium; corticosteroids and carbenoxolone may also reduce potassium levels; cytotoxic treatment for cancer, amphotericin and aminoglycoside.
• Dietary history? - e.g. licorice may reduce potassium; severe dietary deficiency may cause reduced potassium.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Hypokalemia) may include:

• Vomiting? - causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
• Severe diarrhea? - causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)

Stories from Users for Hypokalemia

Real-life user stories relating to Hypokalemia:

• low potassium, fast heart rate
• Low Potassium Home Test?
• Low Potassium Alert!!
• low potassium?
• hypokalemia
• Low Potassium Alert!!
• hypokalemia
• low potassium, anemia, and gastrits link
• low potassium, bone pain
• low potassium, anemia, and gastrits link
• Potassium Level of 9.6
• Severe hypokalemia help

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Hypokalemia or relevant symptoms:

• Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
  • Sore Scalp/hair follicles
  • Fat loss in entire body
  • Dont know how much more I can take..
  • I'm Lost.
  • My wife does not sweat I'm worried
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
  • Burning In Penis After Urination. Std/urine Culture = Negative
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)
  • I KEEP PEEING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!! Iplease some1 help me
  • Excessive Burping..
  • Swollen (enlarged)Kidneys, normal blood tests (no stones)Dr.'s not helping
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories

Videos for Hypokalemia

Patient Surveys for Hypokalemia

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• Survey about diseases related to your Hypokalemia
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Causes of Hypokalemia listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom include:

• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Alkalosis, metabolic
• Amikacin
• Aminophylline
• Amphotericin B
• Anorexia nervosa
• Arsenic trioxide
• Bartter's syndrome
• Bendrofluazide
• Bulimia nervosa
• Bumetanide
• Calcium resonium
• Carbenoxolone
• Cascara sagrada
• Caspofungin
• Cetuximab
• Chloridorrhea, hereditary
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlortalidone
• Clopamide

See full list of 130 causes of Hypokalemia
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Hypokalemia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Metolazone
• Diulo
• Chlorthalidone
• Hydroxocobalamin
• Neo-Cytamen

See full list of 49 medications causing Hypokalemia

Drug interactions causing Hypokalemia:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Hypokalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Celestone and diuretic interaction
• Entocort EC and diuretic interaction
• Cortone and diuretic interaction
• Decadron and diuretic interaction
• Dexameth and diuretic interaction

See full list of 30 drug interactions causing Hypokalemia

Definitions of Hypokalemia:

Hypokalemia: The presence of an abnormally low concentration of potassium ions in the circulating blood; occurs in familial periodic paralysis and in potassium depletion due to excessive loss from the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. The changes of hypokalemia may include vacuolation of renal tubular epithelial cytoplasm with impairment of urinary concentrating power and acidification, flattening of the T wave of the electrocardiogram, and muscle weakness. SYN: hypopotassemia. [hypo- + G. kalion L. kalium, potassium, + G. haima, blood]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Hypokalemia; lower than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Abnormally low potassium concentration in the blood; may result from excessive potassium loss by the renal or gastrointestinal route, from decreased intake, or from transcellular shifts; manifested clinically by neuromuscular disorders ranging from weakness to paralysis, by electrocardiographic abnormalities, and by renal and gastrointestinal disorders.
- (Source - CRISP)

Organs affected by Hypokalemia:

The list of organs typically affected by Hypokalemia may include, but is not limited to:

• Blood

Detailed list of causes of Hypokalemia

The list below shows some of the causes of Hypokalemia mentioned in various sources:

• Acid-Base Imbalance - hypokalemia
• Acute liver failure - hypokalemia
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Alcoholism
• Aldosteronism

See full list of 130 causes of Hypokalemia

How Common are these Causes of Hypokalemia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Hypokalemia. Of the 130 causes of Hypokalemia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 4 causes are "very common" diseases
• 4 causes are "common" diseases
• 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 3 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 125 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 130 causes of Hypokalemia

Conditions listing symptoms: Hypokalemia:

The following list of conditions have 'Hypokalemia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Hypokalemia Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Hypokalemia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: